Workplace Policies Questions & Answers

Understand how an at-will statement and other basic policies can protect your rights.

General Employee Handbook

• May I ever change my policies once I put them in an employee handbook? If so, how much notice do I have to give employees?
• If an employee works for me in another state, which state's laws do I have to follow?
• Is an employee handbook required by law?
• Should I have different employee handbooks for my supervisors and managers?
• What if an employee refuses to sign for a new employee handbook or for a change in policy?

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Arbitration

• May an employer require an employee to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of employment?
• What is arbitration?
• Where do I find an arbitrator?

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Company Property

• May I read my employees' e-mail and/or listen to their voice mail?
• May I search my employees' desks and other things, such as lockers?
• How do I get my equipment or uniforms back from an employee who is terminating?
• How does an employer deal with cell phones in the workplace?
• If my company loans money to an employee, may we collect the full amount still due from his final paycheck?

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Employee Conduct

• May I terminate an employee for absenteeism?
• May my dress code have different requirements for men and women without violating discrimination laws?
• May we have a policy requiring employees to follow certain hygiene practices, such as wearing deodorant or not wearing perfumes or colognes?
• Do I have any right to discipline one of my employees who has posted negative comments about our company on his MySpace Web page?
• May I add a gossip clause to our employee handbook?

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Health and Safety

• Do I need to be certified as a drug-free workplace?
• My office is equipped with a window exhaust fan. May I smoke in my office?
• Our warehouse has large roll-up doors that usually are kept open. May we smoke there?
• There are only three employees in my business. If everyone agrees, may we smoke?
• What am I required to do with regard to ergonomics?

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Hiring

• Am I obligated to rehire past employees for seasonal positions?
• Do we have to offer benefits to part-time employees?
• Does a job description constitute an offer of employment?
• Is there a minimum number of hours a part-time employee must work?

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Mandatory Policies

• May I ever change my policies once I put them in an employee handbook? If so, how much notice do I have to give employees?
• Is an employee handbook required by law?
• Should I have different employee handbooks for my supervisors and managers?
• What if an employee refuses to sign for a new employee handbook or for a change in policy?
• Where can I get a list of possible policies for my employee handbook?

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Termination

• May I fire someone based on at-will status?
• May I fire someone for complaining about working conditions?
• May I fire someone whenever I want if she is within her introductory hiring period?
• Does an employee need to be present to be fired?
• If I know I'm going to suspend or terminate an employee, should I have the employee report to work anyway?

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Time Off

• Am I required to provide paid vacations for employees?
• What is a PTO policy?
• Do I need a jury duty policy in my handbook?
• What is the law that requires time off for victims of domestic violence?
• What should I do when Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day fall on Saturday and Sunday?

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Wages

• May I change my employees' paydays?
• May I set reimbursement rules by company policy?
• Do I have to give severance pay when I fire someone?
• Is there a minimum amount of time I have to give an employee off between shifts?
• Is there a minimum number of hours I must pay an employee who reports to work?

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